Based in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia, Patent Pending includes veteran bluegrass musicians: Eldred Hill (mandolin, lead vocals), Jim Steptoe (banjo), Rusty Williams (rhythm guitar, harmony vocals), Teri Chism (bass, lead and harmony vocals), Wayne Lanham (fiddle, harmony vocals), and Ed Barney (lead and rhythm guitar).  As of January, 2008, Leigh Taylor-Kron of Arlington, Va., is on (bass fiddle, lead and harmony vocals) and Michael Hartnett of Baltimore, Maryland is on (fiddle). Both Leigh and Michael were original members and are featured on previous recording releases.  

The group just recently released Long Road Home on Tuscarora Records.As one would expect from a Patent Pending project, the material is widely varied: from Porter Wagoner to Patti Griffin, from Steve Earle to Gram Parsons. Eldred Hill who gave us the enduring BARABBAS, from the band’s 1998 highly acclaimed gospel CD, CHILD OF GOD has contributed three original compositions, IF I COULD SEE YOU AGAIN, GIRL FROM BALTIMORE and I’M MISSING YOU.  Patent Pending was again honored with another original composition from noted West Virginia songwriter Mike Henderson.

Their previous CD, Child of God released on Copper Creek
Records were one of ten nominees in 1998 by the International Bluegrass Music Association for gospel recorded event of the year.